After getting dressed, Hermione was feeling very shy.
"Harry..." whispered Hermione.
Harry had a smile on his face and he sat very close next to her. He further put his arm around her pulling her close to his chest.
"I love you, Hermione," said Harry.
Hermione flustered, even though she had already confessed, but eventually replied, "I love you too, Harry."
"I will try and send letters through post to you. Can I not call you?" Asked Hermione with trepidation.
The prospect of not meeting or talking to Harry for 2 months was gnawing her from inside.
Harry smiled, "Don't worry, Hermione. This year things will be different. I will come and meet you. You can spend as much time as you want with me."
Hermione's face lit up in joy but then instantly dimmed, "But how will you come? Will it be, okay?"
Harry smiled, "Don't worry, I have a solution this year." Though Hermione remained confused, she did not question further.
"I hope your parents are ok with me visiting your house?" Enquired Harry, though he knew the answer.
The joyous expression on Hermione's face dimmed a little and she muttered, "They would be okay. They are mostly busy with their work."
Harry nodded and though he understood Hermione's reason of pain, he did not say anything. He would comfort her later.
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.
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They continue sitting in each other's embrace for another 15 minutes, until the Hogwarts express finally arrived at the platform of King's Cross Station.
Harry followed by Hermione deboarded the Hogwarts express and landed at the platform 9¾.
The couple had not taken even two steps when a red hair wizard came running towards Harry and almost collided with him. Harry almost cringed at the site but maintained a neutral face.
"Harry... Hermione..." shouted Ron Weasley enough loudly to make people standing even 10 feet away hear him easily.
"Where the two of you have been? I could not find you at all on the whole train. I did not even see when the two of you packed your trunks."
Harry felt his anger rising at Ron's behaviour and the thought that he had been 'best friends' with someone like him.
He took a step back to keep a police distance from the red hair idiot.
"We had been on the train only, Ron. In the last compartment," answered Harry while giving a side eye glance towards Hermione who blushed slightly.
"But I think, I checked towards the last part of train," muttered Ron in confusion.
He leaned closer and hushed, "Never mind...You heard Sirius escaped? Did you two do it? And even Buckbeak escaped. Malfoy had been on it for the entire journey."
Harry nodded subtly acknowledging the truth, "We just helped Sirius to hitch a ride on Buckbeak."
Ron's eyes widened in realisation. He was about to enquire even further, when a mature voice interrupted him, "Here you are."
Harry turned his head to see Arthur Weasley coming towards them along with Molly Weasley.
"Mr. Weasley," greeted Harry. "Mrs. Weasley."
Hermione also followed suit.
Molly smiled with her motherly smile but her expression was pained, "Oh! Harry... my boy... what all you have to go through in a year?"
"Dementors... Sirius Black..." she added as she stepped forward and tried to hug Harry.
Harry did not react and leaned slightly leaving Molly hovering in the air for him.
"Everything is fine, Mrs. Weasley," he added with a small smile.
Arthur stepped in, "It is good that everything is fine."
"Even so Harry, you must stay alert. I doubt he would return back even so Sirius Black is still roaming outside. Till then you must remain safe and do not wander around."
Ron chimed in at the moment, "Dad… you don't know the truth…"
But Harry cut his across, "Ron, it would be better if you discuss these things after reaching your home and not in publicly."
Both Arthur and Molly raised their eyebrows at this and looked between Ron and Harry but did not say anything.
"I understand," said Ron with a face of realisation.
Arthur changed the conversation, "So, how are you going to spend your vacations?"
Though Arthur this question without any malice, Harry could not help but remember how every year he was forced to remain at the Dursleys' house in the name of safety. He had to spend two months, either doing household chores or remain cooped inside a small room. He instinctively clenched his fist.
Hermione was the only one who felt Harry's reaction and she took the lead, "Nothing special… I would most probably remain at my house only."
Harry also had regained his composure by now. Even so he replied stoically, "Usual for me… at my uncle's house."
Molly being the enthusiastic self said, "Why don't the two of you spend some time at burrow them? Probably the last week?"
"I will talk to my uncle," replied Harry while Hermione also chimed in, "I will also talk to my parents."
Harry did not want to drag the conversation any longer, especially considering that if he did not leave immediately, he would be surrounded by other Weasleys.
Harry said, "I think my uncle would be waiting outside. I should not make him wait."
"My parents would also be waiting," chimed in Hermione.
"Yes, we should also get going," said Arthur.
"Where are the remaining kids?" He asked looking around.
Harry and Hermione gave a final nod to the Weasley couple and walked away. Harry and Hermione crossed the barrier of the platform and stepped on the muggle side of the King's Cross Station.
Hermione spotted her parents standing at some distance away from them.
"Bye Harry," said Hermione. Though she wanted to wrap Harry in a hug one last time, she was too embarrassed, she could not especially with her parents watching her from a distance.
"Bye Hermione," said Harry and gave a small smile to her.
She gave a last look to Harry and ran away in her parents' direction.
Harry looked around and spotted uncle Vernon, standing at some distance away with his usual purple expression.
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